Mawdiangdiang, Dec 08: “We are here to serve and not be served” said Shri A R Mawthoh, IPS, Commandant General of Home Guards & Director of Civil Defence, Meghalaya today while delivering a speech as the Chief Guest in the 58th Raising Day Celebrations of the Civil Defence and Home Guards at CD & HG Parade Ground, Mawdiangdiang, Shillong.
Addressing the Civil Defence & Home Guards Officers, jawans and guests on the Raising Day Celebrations, Shri Mawthoh said that the department should serve the people and the state with utmost commitment and integrity. He further stated that all personnel are expected to maintain the highest standard of discipline and be respectful and obedient at all times.
At the same time, Shri Mawthoh emphasised that “the Welfare of the personnel in the Department has been accorded top priority and all genuine grievances will be addressed in the best possible way to boost their morale and confidence.”
Speaking about the department, Shri Mawthoh said “The Civil Defence and Home Guards Department has grown by leaps and bounds in the recent years and now has a foothold in all eleven districts of Meghalaya as the Government has sanctioned eight additional new posts”.
The additional post include the Deputy Controllers of Civil Defence and staff for new District Home Guards Training Centres in Nongpoh, Nongstoin, Mawkyrwat, Khliehriat, Williamnagar, Baghmara, Resubelpara and Ampati during the current financial year.”
“This will enable this department to increase its disaster response mechanism and contribute immensely in community capacity building in the whole state” he added. Highlighting the role of both the Civil Defence, Home Guards in the state, Shri Mawthoh said that the “The two Organisations have made significant contribution at the time of natural and man-made calamities.”
He informed the gathering that the Department will be training 175 (One Hundred Seventy Five) Home Guards Volunteers and 2140 (Two Thousand One Hundred Forty) Civil Defence Volunteers in 2019-20 throughout the State and this will help in generating employment opportunities for many youths in the State.
He said that the Department has deployed 1308 trained Home Guards volunteers to different agencies and 5476 Volunteers drawn from various NGOs, School and College students, Govt. Officials, etc. have been trained in Disaster Management subjects till November 2019 with 12 (twelve) Officers and personnel from the state being trained outside the State in 2019.
Highlighting the activities of the State Disaster Response Force (SDRF), Shri Mawthoh said that the Force since its inception has done a very commendable job to save lives of people in distress by demonstrating professionalism, determination and hard work, countering multiple challenges with bravery.
“The SDRF has been vital in conducting Search and Rescue operations following natural disaster in the State. It was deployed along with the NDRF during Cyclone FANI., drowning cases at Umiam Lake, Ri-Bhoi District and the ring well incident that took place at Diengiong, Mawdiangdiang, Search and Retrieval of bodies during mishaps at Nongshyrngan village, Umsohiong village, Umngot and Kyllang Rivers where the victims were swept away by the water currents” he said.
Mr Mawthoh further added that the Department is taking necessary action to augment the capabilities of SDRF for tackling disaster such as floods and drowning in water bodies. He also highlighted the role of the Civil Defence, Home Guards and SDRF in the present COVID-19 pandemic and stated that the department has been at the forefront fighting the battle.
He saluted the warriors of this department at the frontline comprising of the officers, personnel, volunteers and the State Disaster Response Force (SDRF) personnel for their bravery and utmost dedication to duty.
Earlier in the day, the Chief Guest, Shri AR Mawthoh, IPS, Commandant General of Home Guards & Director of Civil Defence, Meghalaya pinned the medals for President’s Home Guards and Civil Defence Medal for Distinguished Service and Home Guards and Civil Defence Medal for Meritorious Service to six Civil Defence and Home Guards personnel.
He also distributed the Director General Civil Defence Disc & Commendation Certificate, MHA, New Delhi 2019, to 16 recipients and the Commandant General of Home Guards and Director of Civil Defence Meghalaya Commendation Certificate, 2020 to 4 CD & HG personnel along with the Cash Awards.
Due to the present COVID 19 Pandemic, the Civil Defence and Home Guards Raising Day was celebrated in two venues viz Civil Defence & Home Guards Parade Ground in Mawdiangdiang and the District Home Guards Training Centre in Tura where Shri MK Sangma, Jt.Commandant General of Home Guards & Jt. Director of Civil Defence was the Chief Guest.
